Consultation begins for new Industry Skills Fund

The federal government’s new $476 million Industry Skills Fund is due to commence 1 January 2015 and a consultation has commenced in preparation, which includes webinars, a discussion paper and a digital questionnaire.

The fund is designed to assist Australian industry to access training and support services and develop innovative training solutions to achieve the skilled workforce it needs. It will provide up to 200,000 training places and support services over four years, to help industry adapt to new business growth opportunities, rapid technological change and market-driven structural adjustment.

The government says the fund is a key element in the Australian Government’s National Industry Investment and Competitiveness Agenda, which is yet to be launched.

The discussion paper has been developed to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to submit feedback to the government on the design and implementation arrangements. Submissions responding to the discussion paper are invited by 7 September 2014.

In addition to this, the Department of Industry will hold a series of one-hour consultation webinars, which commence on 25 August and conclude on 3 September 2014. The webinars will consist of a brief presentation providing an overview of the fund and its priorities, followed by a live Q&A session in which stakeholders will be able to submit questions to a panel of senior departmental representatives.

To access the discussion paper and digital questionnaire or to register for the webinars, please visit http://www.business.gov.au/skills-and-training/Pages/Industry-Skills-Fund.aspx.